Thanks Reiziger: - so there are more than a few options out there.
- shipcontroller
- astel-marine
- dockingmaster
- Vetus
- Mathers Micro controller
As Keysdisease pointed out, the first problem is the electronic to mechanical interface, but it obviously can be done.
I may yet end up with a boat that has a full flybridge anyway, but I still like the idea of a separate hand held remote for a solo mariner.
Thanks to all for your contributions!
I just sold a 57' Navigator two weeks ago. The sellers wife did not like line handling at the dock, and the seller liked the idea of a remote to make it easy. He installed a stern thruster and added a Yacht Controller at a cost of about $12,000.
It depends how a DIY you are, the principal is straitforward. A servo to control the trottle, one to control the gearbox an a electric valve to control the hydraulic steering. Some electronics to control this....
With an electronic engine even more easy, just control the CAN message for trottle position.